That mail ballot had to travel a long way — from Joliet to the Vatican City, where Pope Leo XIV has led the Catholic church since white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel in May 2025.
Legal residents (but not citizens) in most countries do have to pay taxes.
Most places make you pay income tax if you’ve stayed more than 6 months a year while earning money.
The benefits of being a “resident” and paying taxes include living in a place that has “the rule of law” and borders that are defended, so that the next country over can’t come over and seize everything and everyone occasionally. If this all sounds medieval, it is because it is. It’s like being “under the protection of” the local noble/warlord.
Citizenship itself, in more abstract terms is interesting. It is a “club” that individuals can shoes to join and/or change per will? Or is it more like the state “owns” you and they don’t care enough to prevent you from moving around.
Remember, the US requires you to file/pay taxes if are a US citizen but live abroad. Most other countries do not require you to pay taxes if you’ve live/work outside of their country. Does it feel “medieval” yet…, where the most powerful “lord” can make his people pay tax even though they are living in another “lord’s” domain?
Legal residents (but not citizens) in most countries do have to pay taxes.
Most places make you pay income tax if you’ve stayed more than 6 months a year while earning money.
The benefits of being a “resident” and paying taxes include living in a place that has “the rule of law” and borders that are defended, so that the next country over can’t come over and seize everything and everyone occasionally. If this all sounds medieval, it is because it is. It’s like being “under the protection of” the local noble/warlord.
Citizenship itself, in more abstract terms is interesting. It is a “club” that individuals can shoes to join and/or change per will? Or is it more like the state “owns” you and they don’t care enough to prevent you from moving around.
Remember, the US requires you to file/pay taxes if are a US citizen but live abroad. Most other countries do not require you to pay taxes if you’ve live/work outside of their country. Does it feel “medieval” yet…, where the most powerful “lord” can make his people pay tax even though they are living in another “lord’s” domain?